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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2003)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Siletz Tribal Gaming Regulatory Agency Review For the past several months, the Siletz Tribal Council has been involved in an intensive review of the tribe’s gaming regulatory agency. This has resulted in revisions of a number of documents pertaining to our gaming regulations. This lengthy process culminated during the week of March 10 with sessions not only involving the Tribal Council, but also the executive director of the Siletz Tribal Gaming Regulatory Agency (STGRA), the hearings commissioners, and the general manager and compliance officer of Chinook Winds. Sharon House, who has served as our consultant on regulatory matters ever since we began operating Chinook Winds more than seven years ago, worked with us throughout the week. Tribal Attorney Craig Dorsay also helped us revise appropriate parts of our gaming charter, STGRA operating procedures, job descriptions, etc. Since we began gaming as a tribal enterprise, we’ve been cognizant of our responsibility to ensure the fairness, deficiency and violations and denied or suspended licenses. We believe that it’s through these periodic reviews and needed revisions that our regulatory system has been able to address new situations and needs as they arise. Economic Development Conference Chairman Delores Pigsley integrity, security, and honesty of our gaming operations and have seen to it that an effective regulatory system has been in place. Our recent review has resulted in a number of improvements, one of which is establishing an independent three-member Hearings Commission to hear appeals. These positions are filled by the three people who had been titled commissioners. No new vacancies have been established. Previously, appeals were heard by the same entity that issued notices of To the editor: I am writing this letter in regard to the Charitable Contributions Committee. This committee is designed to decide where our donations and such will be allotted. I feel our Tribal Council made a mistake when they decided on the positions to be held by the committee. They have designated the following spots to be filled - one council member, two tribal members, and three non-tribal members. My feelings are that any committee within our tribe should strictly consist of tribal members. We are a sovereign governmental tribe, set apart from the rest of the world. Let me ask you this, don’t you feel we are set apart for a reason? And if we require non-Indians or non-tribal members to decide where our money goes, what does that say about us as a tribe? Furthermore, if we allow non-Indians to decide for us on this issue, what other say will our Tribal Council grant them over our tribe? In closing, I don’t feel the Siletz Tribe should be required to make money spending decisions based on the opinions of, quite possibly, the very race that In February, I attended a major conference on economic development in Las Vegas sponsored by the National Center for American Enterprise De velopment. This three-day conference had more than 1,000 registrants representing tribes from across the nation. Dwight Butt, newly appointed Siletz Economic Development director, and Dan Lundy, coordinator of Economic Development, also attended. The conference covered many topics, including the means by which tribes can obtain government contracts from various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. It included sessions on various aspects of Indian-owned corporations. Representatives of the telecom munications industry were there to urge tribes to explore ways in which they could buy and own their own telephone and utility companies. The conference, especially for our Economic Development staff, was an excellent opportunity for networking with other tribes and federal agencies and to gain helpful ideas on available financing resources and preparing viable business plans. Dolly Fisher, Tribal Council Member For those of you who haven’t heard, I regret to report that Dolly Fisher suffered a stroke in mid-February. She was transferred from the hospital in Newport, Ore., to a rehabilitation center near the hospital where she is undergoing therapy. The good thing is, being the fighter that she is, Dolly is making excellent progress. She’s been involved in Siletz Tribal affairs for more than 30 years and was actively involved in the Siletz Tribe’s fight to be restored. Dolly has a devoted family that is by her side, giving her comfort and assistance. Please remember her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. To the editor: I want to thank each and every one of you who voted for me in the last Tribal Council election. It gave me great pleasure and satisfaction to know that even though I didn’t get elected, I did manage to reach out and touch 155 fellow tribal members and friends. I would also like to thank those of you who didn’t vote for me, but took the time to look at me and at least ponder the idea of casting that vote in my direction. Maybe next time! This has been a great experience for me and certainly one that I have not taken lightly. I want you all to know that this was not a “one-time shot’’ for me and that you will definitely see my name on the ballot in the next election. Maybe someday I will even get elected. Thank you all very much for your support and I will see you in the next election, if not before. Sincerely, Speaks Out Loud George F. Siniscal caused the oppression we are working so hard to overcome. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Angela Husberg Editor's note: The Charitable Contributions Advisory Board is made up of three tribal members, one Tribal Council member, two non-tribal members from Lincoln County, and one member of the general public from the tribe s service area. April 2003 □ Siletz News □ 3
